Abby co-founded SquashWise in 2007 and has served as full-time Executive Director since 2008. In 2018, she was awarded the Feron's Wedgwood Sportsmanship Trophy from U.S. Squash, and is a 2019 recipient of the Nancy Cushman Impact Award from Maryland Squash. She graduated from the Weinberg Fellows Program in 2010, an executive leadership program training Maryland’s nonprofit leaders. Abby served as co-captain of the George Washington University women’s squash team, where she graduated with a B.A. in History and Philosophy of Medicine (2003). She has a background in public health and received a Masters in History of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University (2011).
Talatha joined SquashWise in 2021 as our first-ever Deputy Director. She has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute, specializing in monitoring, evaluation, and organizational development. In her role as Deputy Director, Talatha leads finance, HR, and operations, and works with the team to ensure high-quality and effective programming.
Kipp joined SquashWise in 2022 as the Senior Program Director. In his role, he supports the thriving and vibrant programmatic work, as SquashWise transitions into the re-imagined Baltimore Greyhound Building. He has over fifteen years of experience in higher education and 10 years in the non-profit sector, specializing in Volunteer Management and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work.
Emily joined the SquashWise team in 2022. While originally from Baltimore, she spent nearly 10 years in St. Louis, MO working in education and the youth development space - both in programming and fundraising. Emily is a licensed social worker with a BA in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and a MSW from Washington University in St. Louis. As Development Director, she leads fundraising and marketing/communications efforts to sustainably advance the organization's mission and ensure continued opportunities for students to play, learn and grow.
Matt joined SquashWise in 2009 after teaching English at an Islamic boarding school in Malaysia, under a Fulbright Scholarship. He was previously an AmeriCorps Volunteer and later a full-time staff member of the Baltimore Urban Debate League. Matt has a B.A. from the University of San Diego in International Relations. As Director of Graduate Success, Matt partners with our network of post-secondary students and alumni, providing ongoing college and career support. The Graduate Success department will actively connect our graduates to their younger teammates to serve as role models and mentors.
Zach joined SquashWise as an AmeriCorps volunteer in 2012 and has worked on our coaching team ever since. He is a local squash professional with extensive experience coaching both youth and adults in the area. He graduated from Gilman and has a B.A. from Tufts University, where he played varsity squash. As Director of Squash, Zach leads our coaching team, partners with students on their athletic and fitness goals, and oversees our ambitious tournament and match scheudule. He also coaches our Varsity Team and co-leads our annual event, the Jack Laporte SquashWise Rally.
Sarah Howell joined the team in 2021. She is an experienced STEM educator and former partnership director of the Middle Grades Partnership program at Park School of Baltimore. In her role at SquashWise, Sarah leads the Department of Education, where she collaborates with our academic staff team in delivering a thriving enrichment program, and partners with students and their families on their college and career plans.
Emmanuel joined Squashwise in 2022, bringing over a decade of experience working in various aspects of education. His foundation began with volunteer work for the ``Big Brother Big Sister`` program, followed by his time as the Residential Coordinator at the Upward Bound Program. He really found his calling as a Student Life Counselor for the Seed School of MD. He leads our middle school academic program, providing tutoring and enrichment sessions for students and support in middle school transition and readiness. Emmanuel also partners with students and their families in setting their high school selection goals and support in preparing for standardized testing.
Dominique joined SquashWise in 2021, bringing many years of experience at the SEED School of Maryland as a Student Life Counselor and as a College Readiness Instructor at UMBC’s Year Up Program. She leads our high school academic program, providing tutoring and enrichment sessions for students and support in high school transition and adjustment. Dominique also partners with students and their families in setting their college and career goals and preparing for their post-secondary journeys.
Hamzah joined SquashWise in the Fall of 2021 as a squash instructor. Hamzah brings his expertise and skillset as a professional squash player to SquashWise and his experience playing in national and international squash tournaments. For the past ten years, Hamzah has been coaching various clinics, summer camps, and one-on-one lessons for highly skilled squash athletes who attend highly competitive Ivy League and squash-known colleges. Hamzah's personal and practical approach to squash coaching has enabled him to connect with SquashWise youth on and off the court, making him a great addition to the SquashWise community.
